National Conclave charts roadmap for mental well-being in higher wducation
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
Mumbai: The 2nd National Well-Being Conclave at IIT Bombay has reinforced the government’s push to embed mental health, resilience, and institutional accountability across India’s higher education system, bringing together policymakers, academics, and students to shape a coordinated action plan for 2025–26.
Youth under strain: Policy push for mental well-being
India’s adolescents and youth—central to the nation’s demographic dividend—face rising pressures from academics, digital environments, and social isolation. Recent national frameworks, including NEP 2020, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2021), and UGC-Education Ministry guidelines, emphasise counselling infrastructure, inclusive campuses, and stricter accountability.
Economic Surveys (2023–24 and 2024–25) also highlight that student mental health is essential to sustaining national productivity.
IIT Bombay hosts 2nd National Well-Being Conclave
The two-day conclave (22–23 November 2025), held in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, brought together 80 HEIs, 115 faculty, and 139 students, building on the foundation laid during the inaugural event at IIT Hyderabad in 2024.
The opening session featured Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Higher Education; Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay; Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu.
A key release was the “Compendium of Emerging Best Practices of Well-Being 2.0”, capturing successful institutional models for nationwide replication.
Day 1: Panels spotlight counselling, resilience, and campus systems
The opening day featured a wellness exhibition, symposiums, and multi-institutional panel discussions. Major themes included strengthening counselling ecosystems, peer-mentorship models, digital well-being tools and institutional responsibility for student wellness.
Key sessions:
“Future of Well-Being in Indian Higher Education”
“Thriving Minds: From Academic Growth to Lifelong Well-Being”
Experts called for early detection of psychosocial concerns, collaborative mental-health frameworks, and sustained institutional mechanisms.
Day 2: Walkathon, workshops, and innovative student initiatives
A campus walkathon emphasised the integration of physical and mental health. Breakaway workshops for faculty and students covered life-skills training, peer support, counselling competencies and digital-well-being strategies. Students later presented their own well-being initiatives designed for campus implementation.
Valedictory session outlines action plan for 2025–26
The conclave concluded with a valedictory event chaired by Rina Sonowal Kouli, Joint Secretary, Higher Education. The Inter-University Action Plan 2025–26 was announced, mapping a coordinated national roadmap for strengthening mental-well-being structures across institutions.
Momentum from the 1st Conclave in 2024
The inaugural conclave at IIT Hyderabad (November 2024) brought together 350 stakeholders from 100 institutions, establishing a national consensus that well-being is a shared responsibility.
Key recommendations included professionalised counselling systems, student representation, faculty-staff well-being frameworks and collaboration with external mental-health experts. These reforms also align with the Supreme Court’s 15-point guidelines issued in July 2025.
